2020 La Rioja Alta Viña Ardanza: exceptional traditional Rioja

Another great Ardanza

It's a byword for elegance in Rioja, and an exemplar of the region's traditional style. La Rioja Alta's Viña Ardanza is one of Rioja's most loved (and best value) bottlings. It only gets made in better vintages, which in practice means about 1 in 2. And winemaker Julio Sáenz has been making it for no less than 35 years, so he should know what he's doing. It's invariably a fabulous quality wine.

Today sees the release of 2020 Ardanza, a year which comfortably met Julio's criteria. Early season rain and hail cut back yields, but correspondingly improved concentration. Summer was dry, but not excessively hot; there were enough smatterings of rain to keep the wine fresh and in balance.

2020 Ardanza is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha. The Tempranillo comes from two clay-limestone sites in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, where Tempranillo excels. The Garnacha comes from the lower-lying, rocky soils of eastern Rioja, where Garnacha is king. The Tempranillo gets a full three years in American oak (20% new), the Garnacha a little less, then they age together in bottle. The result is another great Ardanza. It’s sinewy and elegant, beautifully balanced, with a solid core of red and dark fruit. It throws off aromas of clove and cherry, tobacco and orange. And while it's still replete with youthful tension, it promises an increasingly mellow future through a long cellar life. /NT

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Wines available autumn 2026. To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998